November 2013

November 25, 2013

The newest Cleveland Indian recalled his seven years in Texas, saying it was a “perfect opportunity” for him to establish himself as a big leaguer.

“I’m extremely thankful and blessed every day I wore a Texas uniform,” Murphy said. “The only thing that would have made my time in Texas completely perfect would be winning those World Series, or one of those World Series.”

Murphy and the Rangers had discussions about a multiyear deal before last season, but nothing came close.

As Murphy said, “The possibility was discussed, but we never got to details. There was never years offered, never any amount of money offered. So we both agreed to let the season play out.”

Murphy then had a disappointing 2013 season, as he went from everyday leftfielder to bench player. He posted career lows in batting average (.220), on-base percentage (.282) and slugging percentage (.374).

Murphy talked about his struggles, saying he tried to do too much to fill the void left by Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Mike Napoli. That led him to pulling the ball more often than using the whole field, and then he simply didn’t find holes when he did make solid contact.

After how last season went, a reunion seemed unlikely. Murphy said he had a conversation with Rangers general manager Jon Daniels after the season and, from that, determined it was in his best interest to pursue other options.

Murphy found a new home with the Indians, who offered him a two-year, $12 million contract with a club option for 2016. He went on to compare the Indians – one of the wild-card winners last season – to the Rangers in 2009 as an up-and-coming team.

“Group of young, talented guys with veteran leadership … guys who look like they have a lot of fun on the field and believe in one another,” Murphy said. “They won 92 games last year and it looks like they’re only going to get better.”

November 20, 2013

Prince Fielder is headed to Texas to become the Rangers' everyday first baseman, and Ian Kinsler is going to Detroit as the Rangers and Tigers announced a blockbuster deal Wednesday night.

Detroit is also sending $30 million to Texas.

Fielder adds much-needed power to the middle of the Rangers' lineup, and his left-handed swing should play well at Rangers Ballpark. Fielder is signed for seven more seasons at $24 million per season.

The Rangers had made it clear all off-season that they would be willing to trade a middle infielder, as it's a position of strength and depth in the organization. By trading Kinsler, the Rangers have cleared an everyday job for Jurickson Profar, who will play second.

Kinsler has a guaranteed four years and $68 million left on his contract.

November 13, 2013

Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish finished a distant second Wednesday in voting for the American League Cy Young award, behind winner Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers. Hisashi Iwakuma of the Seattle Mariners finished third.

Darvish did not receive any first-place votes, as Scherzer grabbed 28 and teammate Anibal Sanchez and Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox grabbed another. But he received 19 second-place votes to edge Iwakuma.

Darvish led the majors with 277 strikeouts while going 13-9 with a 2.83 ERA in 209 2/3 innings. His finish is the highest by a Rangers pitchers since Aaron Sele finished fifth in 1999. Darvish's finish is the highest in history by a Japanese pitcher.

The runner-up finish is the first step toward Darvish triggering a clause that would allow him to opt out of the final year of his contract. That can happen if he wins the Cy Young in the next three seasons or places second, third or fourth in two of the next three.

He signed a six-year, $56 million contract in January 2011. General manager Jon Daniels said on Wednesday that the Rangers hope to talk about an extension with Darvish at some point down the road.

November 12, 2013

It seems that way for now, according to Jon Daniels on Tuesday during the second day of the general manager's meetings. Despite the injury concerns heading into the 2014 season -- primarily with Matt Harrison (back, thoracic outlet syndrome in right shoulder) and Alexi Ogando (three DL stints in 2013) and to a lesser extent Yu Darvish (nerve issue in lower back) -- the big free-agent starting pitchers aren't being targeted by the Rangers.

“We’re not right now looking to give out a big multiyear deal for a starter,” Daniels said. “That’s not what our need is. We’ve got guys we really like that are signed. I’m more focused on the position-player side of the club.”

Daniels has been in contact with the agent for Garza, Nez Balelo. The Rangers continue to like Garza despite a iffy showing after they acquired him in July, but they would rather commit their funds to an offense that struggled in 2013.

The Rangers like Tanaka, 25, though the general belief is he isn't as good as Yu Darvish. Tanaka, a right-hander, works with a fastball that ranges from 90 to 97 mph and a wipe-out split-fingered pitch. He is expected to be posted, and the early speculation is that the winning bid could almost double the $51.7 million the Rangers shelled out on Darvish.

Harrison was reached Tuesday by phone just before he was heading out to hunt some game in North Carolina. He said that he is in Week 4 of his off-season workouts, and is doing everything he normally does without any issues with his back, which was operated on twice last year, and his right shoulder/chest area, which is operating with one fewer rib after TOS surgery in September.

He's optimistic that he will be ready for spring training and Opening Day in 2014.

“If everything keeps going the way it is, I feel good about starting the season as one of those five guys,” Harrison said. “I don’t know why not. I’ve had more time to rest it and get it right completely, and I’m not rushing into anything. I’ll be 100 percent by spring training and the season.”

Elsewhere in Rangers news, co-principal owner Ray Davis has arrived ahead of the owners meetings, where on Thursday he will be approved as the Rangers' controlling partner. He will replace Nolan Ryan and be the ownership face of the club at the quarterly owners meetings.

When informed that the media would have an interest in speaking to him Thursday, he didn't look as thrilled as I was hoping. Maybe I should have tucked in my shirt today.

Seen about as frequently as Davis today is assistant general manager Thad Levine, who is celebrating his 42nd birthday. Cheers.

The news so far Tuesday from the Rangers didn't take place at the general managers meetings. They have hired former catcher Bengie Molina to be their first-base coach and catching instructor, a hiring that completes their coaching staff.

Bobby Jones, who was announced as a new member of the staff last week, will be the assistant hitting coach.

Molina was hired away from the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the assistant hitting coach and had the chance to be around little brother Yadier, who is widely regarded as the best defensive catcher in the game.

Bengie Molina finished his career with the Rangers, who acquired him from San Francisco on June 30, 2010, and he was their No. 1 catcher throughout their first run to the World Series.

He delivered a key three-run homer in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium, but his most memorable moment was hitting for the cycle July 16, 2010, at Boston.

The only unfinished business with the coaching staff is a contract extension for manager Ron Washington. GM Jon Daniels said that is being handled internally, and he offered no further comment.

Another former Rangers catcher, A.J. Pierzynski, was the GM meetings Tuesday. The Orlando resident had breakfast with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf before stopping to speak with a couple reporters.

The free agent said that he is open to any team in 2014. Though he didn't say it, he doesn't anticipate returning to the Rangers. Instead, he could be headed to Philadelphia if the Phillies don't re-sign Carlos Ruiz.

November 11, 2013

The biggest news involving the Rangers on Monday, the first day of the general manager meetings, is that Nelson Cruz rejected their one-year qualifying offer for $14.1 million and will test the market as one of the few noted power hitters.

The Rangers were expecting that outcome all along, and expect that he will have many suitors. They will remain in the mix, but GM Jon Daniels said that the Rangers are willing to go only so far.

"The lines are open," Daniels said Monday night. If there's something there, great."

Just before Daniels met with a small local media contingent, he bumped into the agent for free agent and former Rangers slugger Mike Napoli. The two will talk this week to discuss a possible reunion, but Rangers fans would be wise to not get their hopes up.

Flash back to last year, when Napoli was a free agent for the first time in his career. He and the Rangers never got close, in part because the Rangers were fully aware of the deteriorating condition in his hips. The Rangers wanted him back on a one-year deal before he signed with Boston for three years and $39 million.

That deal, though, fell through when Napoli failed his physical. He eventually negotiated a one-year contract for $5 million, but the Rangers were poised to swoop in had he and the Red Sox parted ways. They didn't, and Napoli is now a world-champion first baseman.

It would seem unlikely that Napoli, coming off the world title, would want anything less than a multiyear contract. Considering the health and the strikeouts, and his 2012 struggles at Rangers Ballpark, the Rangers might balk.

But they'll take about it with Greiper. The Rangers could use a designated hitter and have already considered upgrading at first base. Napoli is done as a catcher because of the hips. But he swings a power bat, though with a ton of strikeouts, and the Rangers need power. Especially if Cruz isn't back.

The Rangers also need starting pitching depth. They believe they are set with a rotation of Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Martin Perez and Alexi Ogando, but there are health concerns with Harrison and Ogando and maybe even Darvish after he ended the season with a nerve issue in his back.

So, the Rangers are going to let Robbie Ross come to spring training as a starter. He did that last year, too, and nothing changed during the 2013 season to lessen his desire to be a starter. He was a starter in the minors before making the bullpen as a surprise piece in 2012.

Ross has had two straight strong outings in the Dominican Winter League after a hiccup in his debut for Toros del Estes, and will make two more starts before leaving for a prior commitment.

"Robbie wanted to start last spring, and he expressed a desire again to start," Daniels said. "We wanted to see the level of commitment, and he's showing that to us now."

The promotions for A.J. Preller (to assistant general manager) and Mike Daly (to senior director of minor league operations) are just the beginning of what has become an annual reshuffling of the deck behind the scenes. Daniels said a release is coming some time this week, but among the changes is Scott Coolbaugh becoming the minor-league hitting coordinator. That post was shared last year. Also, Daly's vacancy as international scouting director will be filled. Daniels, though, didn't get into specifics.

Nelson Cruz will test the free-agent market this off-season after rejecting a one-year qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers ahead of the Monday afternoon deadline.

Cruz's agent, Adam Katz, informed general manager Jon Daniels of the decision Sunday. Cruz has turned down $14.1 million and a guaranteed return to the Rangers for 2014 in hopes of landing a multiyear contract on a thin market for power bats.

Cruz and the Rangers can continue to negotiate. The club will receive a first-round pick as compensation should Cruz sign with another club.

The Rangers need to add power to a lineup that sagged offensively in 2013, and became even more inconsistent after Cruz was suspended for the final 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs.

He returned for the final game of the season, a tiebreaker loss to Tampa Bay that determined the AL's second wild-card entry into the playoffs.

November 06, 2013

Free agency opened only Oct. 30, when Koji Uehara struck out former TCU star Matt Carpenter for the final out of the World Series.

Players have been free to negotiate with all teams only since Tuesday, when their 2013 team’s five-day exclusive window closed.

In other words, the off-season is still in its infancy. It’s far too early for a player to eliminate a potential suitor even if, say, a potential suitor re-signed another player at the same position and went so far as to give that player a significant role.

Such is the case with Brian McCann, not only the top free-agent catcher available but one of the top power hitters, after the Texas Rangers re-signed Geovany Soto on Tuesday and announced that he would be the primary man behind the plate.

The McCann camp, though, hasn’t crossed the Rangers off his list of landing spots.

“I don’t think we’re willing to concede organization or any team because it’s so early,” said B.B. Abbott, McCann’s agent at Florida-based Jet Sports Management.

“The Soto signing certainly doesn’t affect Brian’s thinking at this point. If the Rangers were to come calling, I don’t think it would be a factor.”

General manager Jon Daniels said that he is looking for a either a traditional backup as the Rangers’ second catcher, or a player who can play another position and has a potent bat that manager Ron Washington would want to keep in the lineup every day.

There are several backups who the Rangers could pursue, but McCann is the only one with a big enough bat to help the Rangers overcome the power void they experience last season.

McCann, though, has never played any position other than catcher. As he starts the free-agency process, his mind is on staying behind the plate.

“At this point, Brian’s a catcher,” Abbott said. “He’s a 29-year-old catcher who’s on a Hall of Fame path. You don’t see those kind of guys hit free agency.

Abbott, though, conceded that McCann could be swayed to be more versatile, especially if it helps extend his career.

“I’m not saying as we get further along in the process he could change his feelings on the issue,” Abbott said.